Book of Common Prayer

3 One day at three o'clock, Peter and John went to the temple to talk with God.

² There was a man who had been born lame. He was carried and was laid at the gate of the temple every day. The gate was called Beautiful. He was brought there to beg. He asked for money from the people who went into the temple.

³ This man saw Peter and John ready to go into the temple. He begged them to give him something.

⁴ Peter and John looked at him. Peter said, `Look at us.'

⁵ The man looked at them. He thought they would give him something.

⁶ Then Peter said, `I have no money. But I will give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!'

⁷ He took the man's right hand and raised him up. Right away his feet and ankles became strong.

⁸ He jumped to his feet and walked into the temple with them. He was so happy he jumped around and praised God.

⁹ All the people saw him walking and praising God.

¹⁰ And they knew that this was the man who sat begging at the temple gate which was called Beautiful. They were very much surprised at what had happened to him. They could hardly believe it.

¹¹ While the man still held on to Peter and John, all the people came running to them. It was in the part of the temple which is called Solomon's porch. They were still very excited.

¹⁹ The leaders of the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem. They asked John, `Who are you?' John told them.

²⁰ He did not hide the truth, but he told people plainly. He said, `I am not the Christ.'

²¹ So they asked him, `Well then, are you Elijah?' He answered, `No, I am not.' They asked, `Are you the Prophet?' He answered, `No.'

²² Then those priests said, `Who are you? We want to give an answer to the people who sent us. What do you say about yourself?'

²³ John said, `I am a voice calling in the desert, "Make the road straight for the Lord." This is what was said by Isaiah, the prophet of God long ago.'

²⁴ It was the Pharisees who had sent these people to John.

²⁵ So they asked him, `If you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why then are you baptizing?'

²⁶ John answered, `I baptize people in water. But there is a man standing among you whom you do not know.

²⁷ He is the one coming after me who is greater than I am. I am not even good enough to untie his shoe strings.'

²⁸ The place where John was baptizing was Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River.